Incident
During a local training flight from Dar es Salaam International Airport, a twin-engine airplane lost control while returning to the airport in the early evening. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The wreckage was located near Karege, approximately 35 kilometers northwest of Dar es Salaam Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all three crew members—one instructor and two pilots—were killed.
Aircraft and Crew
The crew consisted of one instructor and two pilots undergoing training. The instructor had accumulated 5,295 total flight hours, with 446 hours on the accident aircraft type. One of the other pilots had 300 total flight hours, including 20 hours on type, while the other had 296 total flight hours, with 16 hours on type.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. However, it was reported that the loss of control occurred when the power lever of the left engine was in the idle position while the reverser on the left engine was simultaneously activated. Investigators did not rule out the possibility that the pilot attempted suicide. Additionally, the possibility that the crew lost control following a sudden and violent fire on the right engine was also not ruled out.